Professional opportunities

School Associates

As a school associate (SA), you can help student teachers make sense of the vast and complex world of educational practice by inviting them into your classroom to observe your teaching methods, as well as mentoring and supporting them as they advance in their developing instructional conventions.

There are many benefits to becoming a school associate:

• SFU Tuition Fee Credits (transferrable, valued at approximately $800) - offered to school associates, in-school coordinators and administrators
• Advancing the teacher profession by helping develop new teachers
• Reflecting on your instructional practice by observing student teachers
• Engaging in dialogue around the latest educational theories, research and curriculum
• Building rapport and professional relationships with your future colleagues
• Attracting high-calibre new teachers to your school and district

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Faculty Associates

SFU's teacher education programs use a unique staffing model, which sees faculty members, seconded school district personnel (faculty associates) and classroom teachers (school associates) work collegially to create the highest quality educational experience for student teachers. Seconded from their school district, Faculty Associates (FAs) are expected to visit schools regularly, deal with a range of challenging supervisory situations and develop open and collegial relationships with teachers and school associates (SAs). Working in pairs, faculty associates (FA) have two primary responsibilities:

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR MODULE'S PROGRAM

The development of their module's program in partnership with every faculty member. FAs provide individual and group instruction in theory and practice with their module (a small group of up to 32 students teachers) and maintain effective liaison between SFU's Faculty of Education and public schools.

THE SUPERVISION OF STUDENT TEACHERS

The supervision of student teachers during the placement and practicum assignments of the PDP and PLP – French Module is the shared responsibility of faculty associates (FA) and school associates (SA). The FA assumes the role of mentor and guide, rather than inspector and judge. Under such supervisory guidance, student teachers are helped to take major steps in their professional development. FAs also help to clarify the responsibilities of the SA who plays a pivotal role in the preparation of student teachers.

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